Fluid-modified mounting



' s sheets-sheet 2 l.. F. vTl-uRY FLUID-MODIFIED MOUNTING Filed nec. 15, 1944 l June 3, 194.7.

INVENTR. Leon F. Thiry v `BY ATTORN Ys June 3,1947. ,I mmv y mamas FLUID-MODIFIED MOUNTING Filel nec'. r13,"1 944 `s sheets-sheet s mmvron. l' Leon F. Thiry BY l Arran! l and absorbing mountings.

Patented lJune 3, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT (ll-'FICE FLUID-MODIFIED MOUNTING Leon F. Thiry, Montclair, N. J., assigner to The General Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December is, 1944, serial No. 568,041

9 Claims. (Cl. 248-358) l This invention relates to vibration-insulating It particularly relates to vibration-absorbing mountings which may readilybe made with independent characteristics for each degree of freedom.

It is well known, that for greatest vibration insulation, the softest suspension or the use of mountngs having the greatest deflection for unitv increase in load should be used. In commercial applications the maximum desirable deflection is usually relatively limited and to sustain the weight of the mounted members it is the general practice to utilize mountings having a higher'spring constant than is most desirable for vibration-insulating purposes. Av particularly advantageous vibration-absorbing mounting is described in the Thiry Patent 1,782,770. Such mountings, utilizing rubber under a relatively high state of radial compression between rigid coaxial members, have especially desirable characteristics and are also advantageous in that they utilize a relatively small amount of rubber for a given capacity. However, as in other mountings utilizing rubber, if there is suliicient stiness to sustain high loads in axial direction with but relatively small deflections, the rigidity or stiffness in directions perpendicular is also greatly increased so that the capacity to absorb vibrations in a diierent direction is materially reduced.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide vibration-insulatingmountings in which the spring constant in radial directions may be made of any desired value without affecting the spring constant or load-supporting ability in the axial directions of axial members.

It is another object of the invention to provide mountings having a rubber-like material under a state of stress 'between coaxial members, and

having spring constants (deflection per unit of load) which may bel made substantially independent for axial and radial directions.

It is another object of th present invention,

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a vibration-absorbing mounting having self-contained fluid damping, which may be automatically maintained at vcorrect adjustment at various temperatures. Other objects will be apparent in the following description o1' the' invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings' in which- Fig. 1 is an elevational view with parts broken away of a mounting embodying the present invention and showing portions of the supporting and supported members attached thereto:

Fig. 2 is an elevational view with portions broken away, of a modiiled form of mounting embodying the present invention and provided with self-contained fluid damping;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 5 and 6 are longitudinal sectional views of other modified forms of mounting embodying the present'invention';

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal view, partly in section, of another modied form of mounting embodying the present invention; and

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal view, partly in section and with portions broken away, of still another modined form of mounting embodying the present invention, which mounting is adapted to facilitate relative movement between the mounted and mounting members in all directions.

In accordance with the present invention I `accomplish the above objects by iluid coupling of substantially independent mountings so that in response to 'the main static load they act as mountings arranged in parallel but in response to variable radial loads only one of the mountings may operate independently. The

mountings comprise essentially a housing portion which may be connected to one ofl two relatively moveable members such as a foundation or mounting member and which encloses a iluid- 40 containing cavity,

n member or diaphragm in contact with said uid and adapted to cause displacement thereof when the resilient material is deflected, ay rigid moveable member carried'by the resilient member which is also preferably adapted to contact said fluid and which may be connected to a mounted member such as an engine or other machine, etc., and a fluid passageway, preferably a restricted orifice or tube for fluid cavities of the mounting. y

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in whicnlike parts are designated by like numerals of reference throughout the several views, mountings embodying the present inventionY comprise at 66 least one outer rigid housingmember l which is Fig. 4 isla longitudinal sectional view through' a portion of another modified form of mounting;

a load-supporting resilient' annular or preferably of generally tubular shape or has portions I a and Ib with generally cylindrical inner walls, and a plurality of fluid-coupled inner rigid spaced members or portions 2a, 2b,`

' members 4a and 4b of resilient material, and the inner rigid coaxial members 2a and 2b, is preferably substantially or completely filled with relatively incompressible fluid 5. The fluid 5 being between the members 2a and 2b serves as coupling means to transmit axial deflections from the member 2a to the member 2b so that in response to deflections axially of the member 2a, member 2b is, also deflected. For y deflections the stress required for given distortion to resilient members a and db in the completed mounting is equal to the sum of the stresses required for the identical distortion of the two separate members. It is thus seen that the mounting acts in response to deflections in an axial direction as though it were composed of two mountings, disposed in parallel relationship. Since the members 2a and 2b are not rigidly connected and since some air is usually present in the fluid-containing cavity, the deflection of the member 2b therefore lags that of 2a. For small vibrational deflections in an axial direction, the mounting is relatively soft and therefore gives superior vibration insulating characteristics. For heavier vibrations the mounting is relatively stiffer and therefore tends to more eifectively limit the extent of the deflection.

As to transverse or radial vibrations between the mounted member 6 and the mounting member or base 1, the spring constant is determined solely by the characteristics of the resilient member la and the mounting has substantially the same characteristics in regard to radial movements as though resilient member ib and the inner rigid member 2b were omitted. It is seen therefore that by varying the sizes of the resilient members 4a and 4b, one can readily obtain desirable characteristics for transverse vibrations without permitting undesirable deflections in longitudinal or axial directions because of the initial load. Thus, by making member la in the completed mounting of larger outer diameter or' shorter height while simultaneously Amaking the annular resilient member do of smaller diameter or greater height, greater radial deflection and greater insulation -to transverse vibrations may be obtained without materially changing or decreasing the aidal deflection.

To further change the load deflection characteristics of the mounting, the inner rigid member 2a may be provided with a cam portion 8 adjacent the free surface 9 of the resilient material dla so that for great deflections the effective thickness of the resilientmaterial 4a is decreased and stiiening effect obtained. A supporting portion III with or without a cam portion 8a extending inwardly from the surface of the housing mayalso be disposed adjacent the opposite free surface of the annular resilient member da to decrease any tendency to relative slippage between the outer housing member I and resilient member at extreme loadings'o'r in addition to change the deflection characteristics by means of the cam. Similarly the inner rigid member 2b may be provided with a cam portion II and a diagonally disposed cam or supporting portion I2 which together serve as means for decreasing the ease of deflection in the region of high deflections. v

A bumper of resilientr material I3, preferably annular in shape, may be disposed between rigid bumper supporting means such as a washer Il, rigidly carried by the inner member 2b and the edge portion of the housing kI to decrease by the fluid coupling action between the portions 2a and 2b the maximum deflections in directions opposite to those controlled by cams 8 and II. The inner member 2a may be provided with a passageway or chamber I5 which may be formed by suitable boring thereof and which may be provided with a removable plug IE'threaded into the restricted ller portion II. Gasket sealing means I8 may beprovided for effecting a fluid-tight seal between the head of the plug I6 vand the member 2a. Removable plug I5 and passageways I5 and I8 serve as closable means for filling the space between the member 4a and 4b with fluid 5.

Since there is sometimes a tendency for loss Y of fluid 5 and since there is sometimes a permanent set within the resilient material la and b, it is frequently desirable' to provide means such as the plug 20 for varying the pressure on the contained fluid 5 to serve as a lsimple creep adjustment. A sealing gasket 2I may be provided between the plug 20 and the lock nut 22 to prevent escape of fluid 5.

The resilient materials may be any soft; vulcanized compounded rubberlike material including rubber, rubbery polymers or copolymers of suitable polymerizable material, such for example as polymersof dienes having conjugated double bonds, including chloroprene, butadiene, isoprene, and homologues and analogues of these materials, copolymers of one or more such dienes with one or more copolymerizable unsaturated materials, including olens such as isobutylene and other unsaturated copolymerizable materials including vinyl'halides, styrene, halo-styrenes, acrylic and alpha-alkyl substituted acrylic acids, esters and nitriles thereof and vinyl ketones, vinyl pyridine, etc., as well as natural rubbers. Rubbery condensation polymers such as the condensa- Ytion products of chloro-substituted aliphatic com-- pounds, such for example as ethylene dichloride,

with an alkaline polysulde, and the rubbery condensation products of dibasic acids such as sebacic acid with dihydric alcohols such as ethylene glycol and the like may also be used for certain applications. Rubbery copolymers of a suitable cross-linking agent and polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate and/or polyvinylidene chloride, etc. may also be used. It is desirable that sufficient cross-linking compounds be present in all cases for vulcanization.

The term fresilient material as used herein is therefore seen to be used in a generic sense to include any vulcanizable material having physical properties similar to a soft vulcanized or vulcanizable rubber compound.

-In the modification of Fig. 2, rigid separating means such asa rigid diaphragm A25 is provided between at least two'successive housing portions and between two successive annular resilient members 4a and 4b for separating the space beorifice or tube' as through thev dirpmagm :s av provided between the chambers adjacent opposite sides of the diaphragm 26.v Means such as the plug 21 which has an opening 23 therethrough adapted to connect with the passageway and which `is journaled within the housing I, or the diaphragm 26 thereof, is provided f or adjusting and thermostatically regulating the size of the passageway 26 to compensate for effects oi.' temperature on the viscosity of the fluid 5. By loosening the lock nut 34 which bears against the resilient gasket 35 the head 33 is made free to turn.. Initial adjustment of the orice-regulah ing means may be readily had by simply turning l the indicating head 33.

When in order to provide fluid damping a, restricted passageway is provided between the sep-v arated chambers, it is highly desirable to provide a surge chamber which may contain compressible gas to permit flow of fluid 5 therein in response to sudden shock. Thus, a separate chamber may be provided or preferably a portion of the counterbore i5 may contain air or compresslble gas tu, which in response to sudden shock is readily compressed to permit exing of the resilient member. lla prior to the passage of appreciable amounts of fluid through the passageway 26.

in the modiilcation of Fig. 4, the thermostatic oriiice-regulating means of Figs. 2 and 3 is substituted by the set lscrew 31, which is threaded into the wall 38 of the housing I and which is adapted to protrude into the oriilce or connecting passageway 26 any desired amount. Means such as a check valve having a lapper 50, adapted to cover ports 5| through the rigid diaphragm 25, may be provided for permitting greater ease of flow of liuid from out of one portion of the cavity than from the other. Thus, the ilapper, which may be loosely Icarried on the stem 52 riveted tothe diaphragm 25, by closing the ports 5| may cause substantially all ot the uid to pass through the restricted passageway 26 when the inner member is deflected in one direction (downwardly in the drawing) relative to the outer member, whereas when the inner member moves in the opposite direction relative to the outer member, the apper, by raising from the seat and subsequent opening of the ports 5|-, permits more rapid return of damping fluid. It is thus seen that the check valve operates as-further means ior permitting a higher `rate of deflection per unit of load in one direction than in the other and it thus serves as means for further preventing resonance of the system. v

By varying the size of the orifice eitherby initial drilling or by adjusting the position of the orifice-regulating means, it Will be seen that substantial variations in duid-damping ofv a mounting member may be obtained. Since in the mounting shown the damping of the mounting 6 K. is readily seen that vibrations inail directions may be reduced to a very substantial degree. While I have shown the two fluid-containing compartments arranged adjacent to each other to permit the use of.ashort passageway or oriiice 26, it is obvious thatsubstantiallyv the same result may be obtained Awhen the parallel mountivnes and compartments therein are spaced' at much greater distances so that the passageway 26 is relatively long, say a tube of any length.

f In the modillcation shown in Flgs.15 to? inclu-v sive, the separate units of the mounting are of differentl diameter. Thus the mountingunit, which comprises a housing portion la of the outer member l, the annular resilient member 4a and the inner member 2a, is of larger diameter than the mounting unit which comprises the-housing portion Ib of the outer member l, `the, annular resilient member 4b and the inner member 2b.

tion of the inner member 2a is-.bored out, cored out or otherwise has portions removed to provide a cup-shaped cavity therein oi' suilicient diameter to receive the portion ib cf the housing or outer' member of the cooperating unit, so that the 'two units are in nested relationship.

In the modication of Fig. 7, while the housing or outer member may, as in the previous figures, be in one piece, the mounting units are'disposed with their axes at an angle to each other.

In the modification of Fig. 6, the portions la and lb of the housing or outer member are made y in two separate pieces, relatively moveable to each other. The other generally cylindrical por` tions 2a and 2b of the inner member together lform a unitary unit. At least one member ofv nular resilient member and a portion of the inner member. A huid passageway 46, which may be Within the inner member, is provided between the duid-containing chambers in the mounting units. Means, such as a restricted portion or orilce 4I in the passageway 40 which cooperates with the tapered plunger 42, that is, pivotally carried by the pivots 43 and 44 from the outer member la of one of the units of the mounting, is preferably provided for modifying the ease of ow of iiuid from a portion of the fluid-containing chamber of one mounting unit into the chamber of another -mounting unit as the defiection'of the resilient members of said mounting units is member may be readily regulated-under vibrating conditions as Well as under static conditions, it is seen that the most apt setting for vibration insulating eiiiciency may be readily obtained.

By regulating the size and stiffness of the two annular resilient conipressible members 4a and tb, and by also adjusting the iiuid damping, it

changed.4

The orice or restricted portion V4I may be disposed within the flap 45 of the check valve if desired. The flap 45 is adapted to make contact with the seat 46 or to raise therefrom, depending upon the direction of uid flow through the restricted portion 4i, and serves as a means for changing the relative ease of rapid deflection in the two axial directions. By providing the plunger H2 with a tapered end portion 41 which extends through the orice 4I, the area for duid flow through the oriiice or restricted portion 4i is decreased upon downward movement of the housing la relative to the inner member 2a. In

this manner, more-uniform iluid damping may be had. Upon reversal of fluid now due to change in the direction of deilection and change of cor- In the modication of Fig. 5, acylindrical -por- 7 responding fluid flow through the restricted portion 4I, the flap 45 may raise from contact with the seat 46 to facilitate more rapid return of fluid.

The filler passageway I'I is through a wall of the outer member and the bumper I3 may be disposed upon a radial flange 49, which is rigidly carried by the inner member 2 and which is adapted to be rigidly connected to one of the relatively moveable elements l.

In the modication'illustrated by Fig. 8 of the drawing, an additional resilient mounting unit, indicated generally by 0, is disposed between the mounting member l and the mounted member t. The housing i is ,therefore resiliently carried relative to both the mounted member 6 and the mounting member 'l'. 'I'he mounting member and the mounted member are thus connected in series through two resilient mounting units, generally designated as A and C, respectively, and there is formed a resilient connection which permits relative oscillatory movement of the mounted and mounting members in lateral as well as vertical directions.

'Ihe additional mounting unit comprises a portion 2c of the inner rigid member, which is preferably coaxial with the portion lc of the housing and carried thereby through the annular resilient member 4c. The member 4c is preferably under radial compression between the inner surface of the housing and the outer cylindrical surface of the portion 2c of the inner member. The member 4c is in fluid-tight relation with both the housing and the portion 2c of the inner rigid member, which portion is in alignment with portion 2a of the unit A and spaced therefrom by relatively incompressible fluid 5. By adjusting the thermostatic means for varying the size of the passageway between the portions of the cavity containing the relatively incompressible fluid as well as by varying the size of the mounting unit B, the characteristics of the mounting may be altered. By adjusting the' initial pressure on the inflation fluid, for example by changing the setting of the plug 20, the initial deflection of the mounting may be changed in a desirable manner. fIt is also apparent that many modifications of the invention may be made without changing the spirit thereof, and it is intended that the invention be limited only by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A vibration-absorbing mounting for absorbing vibrations between two relatively moveable elements comprising generally tubular housing portions, at least one of which is adapted to be rigidly connected to one of said relatively moveable elements, an annular resilient member within each of said tubular housing portions and carried in fluid-tight relation with the wall thereof, a rigid inner-member carried-by each of said annular resilient -members and being moveable with respect to said housing portions by distortion of said resilient member, said inner members being spaced apart and at least one being adapted to be connected to another of said relatively moveable elements, said housing portions, said inner members and said resilient members defining a cavity adapted to receive and retain fluid under pressure, and a relatively non-compressible iluid within said cavity and adapted to bear against said inner members, whereby upon deiiection of one of said inner members relative to said housing, deflection of the other of said inner members occurs through action of said fluid.

2; A vibration-absorbing mounting for absorbing vibration between two relatively movable elements comprising a. housing adapted to be rigidly connected to one of said relatively movable elements and having two spaced, generally tubular portions, an annular resilient member within each of said housing portions and carried iwn duid-tight relation with the walls thereof, a rigid inner memunder pressure, incompressible fluid in said cavity,

whereby upon axial deilection of one of said inner members relative to said housing, deflection of the otherof said inner members occurs through action of said iluid.

3. A vibration-'absorbing mounting for absorbing vibration between two relatively moveable elements comprising a housing adapted to be rigidly connected to one of said relatively moveable elements and having two, spaced. generally tubular portions, spaced inner members, one of said inner members being substantially coaxial with each of said generally tubular housing portions, an annular resilient member between each ci said inner members and the respective housing portion, each of said resilient members being in a state of radial compression between. one of said inner members and a housing portion, being in fluid-tight relation with the inner wall of said housing portion and the outer walls of said inner member and carrying said inner member. within said housing so that relative movement of said inner member and said housing is accomplished by distortion of said resilient material, said housing, said inner members and said resilient members defining a cavity adapted to receive and retain a compressible and an incompressible fluid within said cavity, whereby upon axial deflection of one of said inner members relative to said housing axial deflection of the other of said inner members occurs through action of said fluids.

4. -A vibration-absorbing mounting for absorblng vibration between two relatively moveable elements, comprising a housing adapted to be rigidly connected to one of said relatively moveable elements and having two spaced and generally tubular portions, an annular load-supporting resilient member within each of said housing portions, each of said annular resilient members carrying a portion of an inner rigid member in substantially coaxial relation with at least one of said housing portions, the inner periphery of each of said annular resilient members being in fluidtight relation with a cooperating portion of an inner member, the outer periphery of said annular resilient member being'in uid-tight relation with one of said housing portions, at least one member of the group consisting of said inner member and said housing having relatively moveable portions, portions of said rigid inner member, portions of said housing and said resilient members together defining a chamber adapted to retain liquid under pressure, and a liquid Within said chamber, whereby movement of` one of said portions of said inner member relative to one of said portions of said housing causes movement of the other of said portions of said inner member relative to the other portions of said housing.

5. A vibration-absorbing mounting for absorbing vibration between two relatively moveable elements, said mounting having at least two units, each unit comprising a generally tubular Dortion of an outer member, a portion of an inner v member, which portion has a generally cylindri- `cal shape, an annular resilient member between inner member of the same unit being connected to the other of said relatively moveable elements, at least one of said cooperating units having one of said inner and outer rigid members freeV to move relative to both of said relatively moveable elements, :the parts being arranged so that relative movement of said moveable elements and consequent 'distortion of said annular resilient member causes uid flow into the cavity of an.

other unit and relative movement of the rigid inner and outer members thereof.

. 6. vibration-absorbing mounting for absorbing vibrations between two relatively moveable elements, said mounting having at least two units, each of two of said units comprisinga generally tubular portion of an outer member, a portion of lan inner rigid member, which portion has a generally cylindrical shapaan annular resilient member between said portion of said outer member and said portion of said inner member carrying said'portion in substantially coaxial relation within said generally tubular portion of said outer member, said outer member, said inner member and said annular resilient member together forming a chamber, liquid in said chamber, and a 'iiuid passageway connecting said chamber to a chamber of another of said cooperating units, cylindrical portions of said inner rigid members of two of said mounting units being rigidly connected together, the outer members of said units being free to move relative to each other by deection of at least one of said annular resilient members, and means for attaching one of said moveable elements to said inner member and` another of said relatively moveable elements to an outer member of one of said units, whereby relative movement of said moveable elements and consequent,A distortion of said annular resilient members of one of said units causes distortion of the annular resilient member in the other of said units.

7. A vibration-absorbing mounting for absorbing vibrations between two relatively moveable elements, said mounting having at least two units, each of two of said units comprising a portion of an outer member, which portion has a generally tubular portion, a portion of an inner rigid member, which portion has a generally, cylindrical shape, an annular resilient member between said portion of said outer member and said portion of said inner member carrying said portion of v said inner member in substantially coaxial relation within said generally tubular portion of said outer member, said outer member, said :inner member and said annular resilient member together forming a chamber, liquid in said chamber,

a iluidvpassagewayconnecting saidchamber to a chamber of another of said cooperating units,

a restricted portion in said passagewayand means for automatically varying the degree or restriction thereof when the degree of deection of said resilient member is varied, cylindrical portions of said inner rigid members of two of said mounting units being rigidly connected together, the outer members of said units being free to move relative to each other by deflection o at least one of said annular resilient members, and means for attaching one of said movable elements to said inner member and another -of said relatively moveable elements to an outer member of one of said units, whereby relative movement of -said moveable elements and consequent distortion of said annular resilient members of one of said units causes distortion of the annular resilient member in the other of said units.

8. A vibration-absorbing mounting for absorbing vibration between two relatively moveable elements, said mounting having at least two units,

each unit comprising a rigid outer member hav- Y 'a 'passageway for iluid between the portions of said cavity in said units.

9. A vibration-absorbing mounting for absorbing vibrations between two relatively movable membersLsaid mounting having two units, each unit comprising a generally tubular portion of an outer member, an inner member having a Portion tof generally cylindrical shape, an annular resilient member between said outer and said inner member and carrying said cylindrical portion of said inner member in substantially coaxial relation within said tubular portion of said outer member, the 'axes of said generally tubular portions of said units being at an angle to each other, said inner member, said outer member and said annular resilient member of said units cooperatively defining a chamber and a liquid in said chamber, said outer member being connected to one of said relatively movable elements and said inner member of the one unit being connected to the other of said movable elements, one of lsaid cooperative LEON F. THlRY. 

